Times Square in New York was not always the vibrant center it is known as today. Before transforming into the bustling heart of the city, where screens attract millions of visitors, this area was called Longacre Square.
This intersection, formed by the crossing of Seventh Avenue and Broadway, served as a modest place for horse and carriage trade in the early 20th century. Changes in the name and the beginning of the district's dynamic development began to appear in 1904.
The New York Times, anticipating the potential increase in land value due to the construction of the city's first subway line, moved to the newly built Times Tower, which was then the second tallest building in New York. The Times Corporation, which owns the newspaper, and the IRT Company, responsible for the subway, approached the mayor's office with a request to change the place's name to Times Square, which was approved on April 8, 1904.
The appearance of illuminated billboards in the United States was already a reality, especially on Broadway, one of the country's first streets to receive electric lighting. The arrival of the subway did indeed attract other companies to the area. The growth in population stimulated demand for advertising, leading to an exponential increase in the number and size of Times Square advertisements, making it a symbol of modernity and consumption.
The brilliance of Times Square flourished until the economic crisis that swept the country in 1929. In the following decades, the area experienced a decline, becoming a dangerous place filled with dilapidated bars, porn theaters, drug dealers, and prostitutes. However, this situation began to change in the 1990s when then-mayor Rudolph Giuliani led an ambitious initiative to revitalize the area.
The goal of this initiative was to improve safety, eradicate crime, and reattract tourists and large companies, restoring Times Square's status as one of New York's most important historical and tourist landmarks.
Interestingly, The New York Times, despite its key role in naming the square, has repeatedly changed its offices and is currently located on Eighth Avenue, near its former location and the light center that helped create the square.